Rivers Run Deep

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Disclaimer: I do not own the concept of the Predator. whatever you don't recognize, is mine however.




Authors Notes: Full Disclaimer at the begining of the first chapter.



Author: Charlotte (jemstone5)

Email: jemstone5

Feedback: Please, yes lots.

Forward to others: would be flattered if you did.

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Rivers Run Deep



Chapter 44



“Fer’aza,” he quipped back, not paying her much attention, but rather his young son now standing before Kal-esh for instruction.


“He’s grown up strong,” she sighed, stepping closer to the male. “You should be proud, Ten’ock.”


“I am. Why are you talking to me?”


“Can’t a female compliment a male on the raising of his son?”


“I know you Fer’aza,” he hissed. “What are you up to?”


“Honestly! Well, if you must know, I was going to introduce you and your family to some new friends of mine,” she nearly gagged at having to say those words. “One is an Ooman female.”


Tan’ock began to laugh. “You are trying to pair me off! With an Ooman!! Now that’s funny. There are no Oomans on this ship.”


“Tan’ock. You really must pay more attention to things going on around you. Specifically to the front seating area across the room.”


Tan’ock started to laugh again, but humored her and looked where she’d said. His laughing quickly stopped. There, in the front row next to a Yautja female, was an Ooman female, young too by the look of her face. “But sense you don’t want to meet her, I’ll be on my way.”


Tan’ock grabbed her arm, and pulled her back, squeezing hard against her flesh. “Introduce me. NOW!”


“Alright, no need to get angry.” Fer’aza led the male around the room to where he stood next to Kal, but faced the stands instead. Kal grunted in greeting to Tan’ock, and turned his attention to his class, as they regrouped from choosing a practice staff. “El,” Fer’aza chirped, with all the kindness in her voice she could muster. “I’d like you to meet someone. This is Tan’ock, an honored warrior of our clan. Tan’ock, this is El, our latest member.” The two eyed each other for quite a while, before Fer’aza spoke again, and then it was only to bid good-bye.


“Excuse me El,” Lee’tha said. “I’ll be right back.” Then she whispered, “Don’t let him touch you.”


El just kept her eyes on the male that Fer’aza had brought before her. he was tall, though not as tall as Ver’On, she was sure. His black dreads hung nearly to his elbows, adorned with bras colored rings. He wore his leather armor, rather than the metal, and carried a long blade strapped to the outside of his lower right leg. “Hello,” she said, simple enough, though betraying no other emotion than that of courtesy.


“I’ve not seen an Ooman in close to three hundred and fifty years,” he sighed, his breath quick.


“Funny, there are lots of us where I come from.”


“I’ve not been to your world for many years. El…How old are you?”


“Where I come from, it is impolite for any male to ask a female her age.”


“My apologies…I’m out of practice.”


“Father! Watch me!!” a boy called, from the floor.


“You best turn around, though watch your step.”


“Why?”


“Because you’ll trip on your tongue, if you don’t.” She giggled as the male turned, and a young boy ended up getting flattened on the floor. The victor looked to Tan’ock, who nodded his approval. El moved down to the end of the bench, away from him. When the male saw she’d moved, he went towards her, only to have Kal-esh growl at him. When the two exchanged glances, Kal shook his head no. Tan’ock moved back across the room, nodding to Lee’tha and Fer’aza as he passed them.


Lee’tha nodded back, but didn’t release the young female’s hand, keeping her in place. “I don’t know what you’re up to Fer’aza,” she continued, when Tan’ock was out of earshot. “Nor do I care what you hope to gain. Keep away from El, Her mate, and her Kadji. Lest you find out first hand why Ter’Oth prefers not to hunt.”


Fer’aza finally shook off the female, stepping back. “I only wanted El to meet Tan’ock. She would do well to talk to him. Before his current mate, he had an Ooman mate. She gave him seven children, four of which are still on this ship. If she is to be pregnant by Ver’On,” Lee’tha growled at her, warning her to keep her voice low. Fer’aza smiled inwardly. That was a good bit of information to have. “Then she is undoubtedly going to have questions. The Ooman is dead now, died in childbirth to her seventh offspring. The child survived, nursed by another. But who better to answer some of her questions, than the male that shared her bed!”


Fer’aza brushed by her, and left, growling at a group of young bloods, and blooded hunters as they came through the doors she passed. Lee’tha had to admit, it was a good idea. The only information that she had thought of, was the medical information in the computer, once Ter’Oth had discovered an Ooman database of medicines. Perhaps Tan’ock could provide some valuable information for her. But boundaries would have to be set. Carefully she made her way over to Tan’ock, noticing two blooded hunters on either side of him, both showing their mixed bloodlines, with their deeply tanned skin, and thin hair mixed with their dreadlocks. “Tan’ock,” she chirped. “I would have words with you please.” The male patted the two boys on their shoulders, then stepped up to Lee’tha. “I am Lee’tha, mate to Ter’Oth, the Hur family Healer. I am also a good friend to El. You will not attempt to pursue her, in any way, outside of being a friend.”


“That is for her to decide female,” he grumbled, and began to turn away.


“She has already bonded with Ver’On, Elder to the Hur family. You WILL respect that!”


Tan’ock turned back to her, considering what she’d said. Then looking once more to the female across the room, as she conversed with Kal over the railing. Ooman hearts were finicky things, he’d learned that much from his last Ooman mate. If he knew anything, it was an Ooman heart could be swayed, with time, and the right actions. With that in mind, he turned back to Lee’tha. “I will do nothing, that she does not wish,” he said.


“Good. Remain here. I’ll be right back.” Lee’tha made her way across the room, to where Kal was laughing with El. “Kal-esh.”


“Ah, there you are. El was getting lonely. What can I do for you?”


“I would like to invite some guests to dinner tonight. May I?”


“Who?”


“Tan’ock, and some of his family.”


Kal glanced across the room, and deduced just which of his family she meant, noticing two of his four children form his Ooman mate standing with him. All were staring across the room at them, no doubt staring at El. “You will not be dining alone,” he stated flatly. “And we dine in the main hall, with everyone else.”


“I agree.”


“Very well, invite them.”


“Thank you. El, you will be sitting between myself and Kal-esh tonight, and don’t argue.” El watched the female return to the group across from them, then turned to Kal and shrugged.


When Lee’tha rejoined the three males, she nodded to the two youngest, but addressed Tan’ock directly. “You will join us for dinner in the main hall,” she said. “You, and your two sons, and any other children that may wish to attend.”


Tan’ock bowed to her. “I know who would like to. Thank you, Lee’tha, shall it be the usual eating time?”


“Yes. We will meet you there. Reserve spaces for four. Fer’aza and Kal-esh will be joining us.”


Tan’ock’s neck started to strain, he’d hoped that wouldn’t be the case, but at least he would be sitting with the Ooman, that would have to do. “It will be done.”






“Ok, Lee’tha, what is going on?” El had remained silent after the encounter with Tan’ock, but enough was enough. Lee’tha had been talking to the male for some time, and though she was curious about the two other odd looking males with him, she’d kept her questions to herself, till they were alone in the lift.


Lee’tha huffed, and turned to her. “Fer’aza introduced that male for one reason. He’s interested in Oomans. He recently released his last mate, finding her no longer suitable. She’s now with another, but he still is responsible for his children by her, which are only two. The boy you saw, and a younger female.”


“What about the two odd ones that were with him?”


“Those are two of seven offspring he had with his Ooman mate, over three hundred years ago.”


“How do you find all this stuff out so quickly?”


“I talk to the right people, and get right to the point.”


“So if he wants another human mate, why doesn’t he just go back to my world and find one.”


“No one knows. But you will have questions, about carrying a Yautja child. Who better to answer them than the male who fathered seven of them.”


El nodded. “Good reasoning.”


“You will eat what I eat, and nothing that they give you. Understand.”


“Why?”


“Two reasons. Tan’ock, being experienced with Oomans, will try to sway your heart from Ver’On. And with him away, it may be possible.” El scoffed, indicating that she’d never betray her mate. “By accepting food from another male, you are opening the door for a challenge to be made, on Ver’On’s return. The other reason, is the food I eat will be good for my baby. If you are to be expecting, it would be best you start eating the same things now, so you can build up your energy for the baby.”


“Ok. But none of it will be moving around on my plate will it?”


“Of course not. But you will have to catch a few things for the cook to prepare them.”


“WHAT!!?”


“Just kidding.” And they laughed, before stepping off on the floor where the archives were located.






“Who is she father?” one of the young blooded warriors asked, unable to hold his curiosity any longer.


Tan’ock laughed. J-on was his oldest son, but you’d think by the way he acted, he was still only twenty years old, his younger brother, Jin, sat straddling the reversed chair in the middle of the floor. “Her name is El,” he replied, pulling out his metal armor. “She is Ooman, yes. Apparently she intends to mate Ver’On.”


“I’ve heard of her,” stated Jin, “there’s been much talk of her since gathering, though I’d not known she was Ooman.”


“What did you hear?”


“Well, that she mated as though she were in full heat on the grounds, her scent being so strong that some males even dared to take Ver’On’s place. I’d thought it a bit strange, but I wasn’t interested in mating anyone, so I didn’t pay attention. Why have they invited us to dinner?”


“Because the female has undoubtedly been impregnated by Ver’On. Though she will not show for many weeks, she’s probably got questions. Questions she will ask me, to which I will give answers, because of your mother.”


“Do you think she knew her?”


“No. Oomans only live eighty years, sometimes more.”


“But mother lived to be a hundred and fifty.”


“Yes, but not without a lot of help from our medicines, and the DNA she exchanged with each of you and your five siblings.”


“So she will want to know what will happen to her?” Jin asked.


“Yes.”


“You intend to sway her!” shouted J-on, watching his father polish his armor, something he always told his sons not to do, for it would give away their position on a hunt, when shining in the sun.


“And what if I do!? Ver’On has no mark, no honor in the eyes of our clan! If the female is to be expecting, she will need more than Kal-esh to protect her! I WILL BE THAT ONE!”


“Father, please. Don’t do this. Fer’aza only drew your attention to the Ooman, because she has M’Pa as her Kadji. Fer’aza wants M’Pa, but can’t, unless he’s released. If you sway her heart, Ver’On will be heart broken. M’Pa will be dropped, in disgrace, and the Ooman, well, she probably won’t be all that happy when those around her that she loves now, are upset. Do you really want that to happen?”


“I WILL HAVE AN OOMAN MATE AGAIN!”


“So go to the blue planet and find one. Don’t take one that is bonded to another.” J-on put his hand over his father’s shoulder. Since his last mate had learned that he’d mated with an Ooman, and produced seven children with her, she’d been unlivable. They argued verbally, physically fought, and their mattings were less than pleasant. Many times his father would tell him he wished for another Ooman to be his mate, but with one son by his Yautja mate already, and a young female suckling, there was little he could do. He needed to be close by in case he was needed. “Father, think for a moment. Remember how happy you were with mother, and the stories you told us of how you would fight other males to keep her when she was in heat. You were happy then, we could see it. We still can whenever you mention her. How would you have felt if someone had succeeded in taking mother from your side?”


Tan’ock’s arms shook with the rage building in him, just at the thought of loosing his Ooman to another. “Not very happy.”


“And yet you would put another through that same torture? Appoint us guardians over our sister and brother. Go to the blue planet. Take as long as you like. Find another mate. Leave El to Ver’On. What you wish now, will only tear apart too many lives. Besides. I want Fer’aza, and I will not let some lanky Yautja like M’Pa go near her.”


“From what I hear brother,” his younger stated. “M’Pa can’t stand Fer’aza, but Fer’aza is determined to get into his cloth.” The younger laughed, and ducked as his brother swung out at him, growling at the same time.


Tan’ock put his hand on his son’s shoulder, squeezing firmly. “You are right, my son,” he said. “I will seek a mate again, on the blue planet. But as El will ask me about your mother carrying you all, I will ask her about her people. Oomans must have changed quite a bit over the last three hundred years or so, I’m sure. The more I learn now, the better.”


“Then you will both have something to talk about. I’m glad father. I’m glad.”






Fer’aza wasn’t at all happy. Kal insisted she sit next to him at dinner. Across from her was that annoying J-on, Tan’ock’s oldest Ooman bred son. He wasn’t’ a bad warrior, from what she’d heard of he and his brothers, he was quite skilled, equal to any Yautja, so she couldn’t fault him for not being worthy. Yet it wasn’t his scent that repelled her, his musk was like any other male. She’d even heard of some females who’d mated with him, and were very satisfied.


No. What turned her off were his looks. Petty she knew, but he just wasn’t what she wanted. His skin was brown, not the normal molted colors of her people, and although the bone structure of his face and head was predominantly Yautja, he didn’t have mandibles, but rather broad Ooman lips. His teeth were different as well, though could only tell from just looking at him.


His head was adorned with long black dreadlocks, decorated with the rings of an honored warrior, but he also had that ridiculous stringy hair all through his dreads. Though unlike his mother’s species, he didn’t have to keep cutting the hair from his face as it grew.


His eyes however, those were a different story, strong piercing blue eyes that sparkled when he looked at her. Those eyes, she felt, she could like. Yes, she could like them very much indeed.


“Good Evening Fer’aza,” he purred to her. Despite the physical differences caused by his mixed blood, he could purr sweeter than any Yautja she’d ever heard before.


“J-on,” she chirped politely, but quickly turned to El to kick start her plan. “Tan’ock, I’m please you could join us.”


Tan’ock just nodded politely, then turned his attention to the Ooman, as she laughed with Lee’tha while taking her seat. “El,” he greeted. “May I present…” Quickly Kal growled at him. To present any members of his family to El meant he intended to take her as an eventual mate, and like it or not she was to accept his present children. Tan nodded and corrected his error. “…introduce…my children. J-on, my oldest, Jin, Sirona, and Bell.” The two females nodded, broad smiles on their faces. Jin was too busy glaring at his brother, probably getting ready to teas him later about how he was undressing Fer’aza with his eyes.


El nodded back. She was surprised their human qualities stood out. “Thank you for coming,” she said.


“My other two children have taken mates off ship, my seventh died in a hunt some years ago. I’d expect the other two should come to visit, one day soon; I hope. Perhaps you will be able to meet them as well.”


“I look forward to it, and my condolences for your loss.” Tan nodded gratefully. Rarely had another Yautja offered any sympathy for his youngest son’s death, with such softness to their voice. It was something he greatly missed.


“Have you chosen a mate yet?” asked Sirona.


“El has bonded with Ver’On, the Elder to the Hur family,” Lee’tha stated, very proudly, also with a hint of ‘don’t even try to break them up’ attitude to her voice.


“Too bad,” Bell sighed. “I know father would have…”


“Would you stop trying to fix up father with every female you see, Bell,” Jin protested, as he gently struggled with his brother’s arm, after he gave the younger a swat for whispering something to him in jest. “You’d think he couldn’t do it himself.”


“I’m only saying…”


“My children, please,” Tan’ock interrupted, nudging J-on’s shoulder from behind to settle. The other pair went quiet as well. “As you can see, El, Yautja families with Oomans is quite possible. My oldest is nearly three hundred and thirty Ooman years old.” J-on grunted, patting his chest, only looking at El for a moment before returning his gaze to Fer’aza. El noticed this right away.


“Three hundred and thirty?” she quipped. “I’m jealous. How did you meet their mother? If you don’t mind me asking.”


“Not at all. Her tribe, though dwindling in numbers rapidly, worshiped us as gods. One day, one of their warriors, in grief over his son’s death to a beast, ransacked the temple. We understood of course, but to appease their gods, the tribe presented Zana to us, as a sacrifice. I did not want further deaths to the tribe, so I took her with us. It was a few years later that we finally mated. In that time, I learned much of Oomans.” Tan accepted a plate of meat from the server, as several others put plates of food before his other children and their hosts. He noted the large amount of vegetables and raw meat set before El and Lee’tha, commonly consumed by pregnant females. His heart thudded hard in his chest as he recalled his Zana, as her body swelled with the life of the children he’d given her.


“Oh boy, here we go again,” Jin laughed, shoving his elbow to his father’s ribs. Tan pushed him back. “He’s remembering something about mother again. Come on Father, tell us!”


“Oh yes please, Father, do tell!” Bell sang.


“El,” Jin continued. “Whenever father gets that look in his eye, it’s because he’s remembering about mother, and he loves to talk about her.”


“Only to you lot!”


“Oh father please tell,” Bell continued.


“Very well,” he sighed. “But only because it will help El, should she and Ver’On have a family.” Three of the children all turned to their father, but J-on refused to take his eyes off Fer’aza. “My Zana when she was expecting, used to have these horrible mornings. She would rise, and within a few minutes, expel whatever food she had left in her stomach.”


“MUST YOU!” Kal shouted, putting down the huge chunk of meat he was about to bite into.


“Sorry. It took us a while to figure out what to do. Those green lumps in your plate,” El looked to her food, “those are called Zakas, they will help you greatly. Give you lots of calcium for the baby, energy for you, and should ward off the mornings.”


“Thank you, that’s good to know.” Below the table, and under her cloak, El slid her hand over her stomach. She wanted so much to tell someone, other than Lee’tha, that she and Ver’On were going to have a baby, but Lee’tha had insisted that she not.


“Would you mind if I ask you a few questions?” Tan asked. Kal growled low to him, a gentle warning. Kal knew Tan’s like for Oomans, and his desire to take another as his mate. Lee’tha had also told him that Fer’aza was not just being a good host by introducing El to her new clan, but that she was still after M’Pa, and was going to try and use Tan’ock and his family to get him. Kal wasn’t impressed. But the love struck male was a concern, even though he remained at his distance.


“I don’t mind,” El replied. “What would you like to know?”


“How much has your world changed in the last three hundred and fifty years?”


“Oh god…” she turned her gaze to the ceiling, thinking. “That is a huge question, and I never was very good at history. Let me think. Three hundred years ago. That would make it about the seventeen hundreds…” Tan tilted his head as he waited. “Well, we didn’t have planes back then, nor satellites. So our Technology has advanced quite a bit. Cars, trucks, boats, SUVs. OOOO!!! And Motor Cycle! Ver’On let me bring mine.”


“I see. El, how is it that you speak our words so well, yet half of what you said I could not understand.”


“Oh, I’m sorry. Sometimes I forget.” She lifted her hair from her right ear. “Ver’On got me a translator. Guess it still needs to be programmed. I KNOW! Kal?”


“Yes.”


“Where did Ver’On store my Motor bike? The odd looking two wheeled machine we brought with us.”


“That thing?” J-on finally stated, taking his eyes form Fer’aza at last. “That’s in Bon’tel’s workshop. I was wondering what it was, and who owned it.”


“So you’ve seen it.”


“Seen it? I trip over the parts all the time. It’s hard to get any work done. It’s been placed in the middle of everything.”


“Oh, I’ll see about coming down to move it.”


“You’re not allowed in the shops.”


“Excuse me?”


“Breeding females are not allowed in the workshops. Too many chemicals and other stuff could hurt you. Best you stay up here, where it is safe.”


“I’m not some helpless child!”


“You can say that again,” Kal laughed. “I still get excited over how you took out the bad blood.”


“THAT WAS YOU!” Jin shouted, as his brother took more food off his plate, and replaced it with food he didn’t like from his own. “I’ve been listening to all the stories from those who were there. They never said you were Ooman, but the battle sounded extraordinary! Tell me everything!!!”


“I’d rather not,” El sighed, preferring to drop the subject right then.


“Oh come on. He was right at your feet when his blood spilled. Tell me what you saw! ALL OF IT!”


“ENOUGH!!!” Everyone at the table, both in their group and not, jumped in place at the ferocity of her voice. Young Jin suddenly felt like he did when his mother would catch him teasing his brothers and sisters, very sheepish. El looked at all the eyes staring back at her, then took a deep breath, and continued more quietly. “Stories from witnesses will have to do. I don’t like to talk about it. Perhaps, when Ver’On returns, he will grant your request.”


Jin huffed. “You’ll make a good mother,” he said. “You had me riveted to my seat. You’ve much command in your voice. Good for rearing young males. I look forward to hunting with your offspring.” El just nodded. Tan chuckled to himself. He remembers the scoldings that his Zana would give from time to time, not to mention the tongue lashings she would give the prospective mates to her daughters.


“Tan’ock?” El asked. “Why do you want to know about my world now?”


Tan swallowed some of his food. “I intend to return, and find a new Ooman mate.”


Fer’aza choked on her drink. “WHAT!”


“That’s wonderful!” El cheered, watching J-on from the corner of her eye, try to help Fer’aza wipe the table from her spilled drink.


“I was wondering what area you came from. Perhaps I’ll return there to find my mate.”


“I wouldn’t suggest it. Too much unwanted attention. Not only that, the girls there, aren’t what you’d want as a mate. Too many admirers, & they don’t wear much clothing.”


“Father, I want to join you!” Jin stated, spitting out bits of his meal at the same time.


Tan flicked a piece of food off his arm, as he turned to his younger son. “Mate a Yautja female first, get your hormones under control. Then say you want an Ooman. I think you will find Yautja females far more durable that Oomans. Am I right?” he asked of El.


El shrugged, leaning her elbow on the table. “My own opinion, human males are too full of themselves, egos the size of this ship, and then some. Personally, once you go Yautja…” she smiled, she couldn’t’ believe she was about to say what she was thinking. “…you never go back.”


“Ah, but,” Lee’tha chided, “mate one of mixed blood,” and she eyed the young male next to his father, “and you have the best of both worlds.”


“LEE’THA!!!”


“What? Ter’Oth and I have been thinking of taking a Kadji. I hadn’t really been considering looking…till now.” The young male puffed up his chest, and huffed his breath several times, till his brother poked him in the stomach. The girls laughed as the boy cringed. He was ticklish there, and they all now knew it.


Fer’aza sat at the end of the group, completely pissed. Her plan was ruined. Tan’ock was going to go back to the blue planet and take another mate. Once he had his mind set on something, there was no changing it. She looked up as she felt J-on’s foot beneath the table, brush up against her leg. She hissed gently in warning to him. He purred loudly back. Jin laughed.